Chadwick draws first blood in GT5 Challenge

Ollie Chadwick came out on top of an epic three-way duel to take the spoils in race one of the Ginetta GT5 Challenge at Oulton Park.

Chadwick fended off stiff competition from series-rookie James Kellett and Stewart Linn to win for Xentek Motorsport, but only after a race-ending red flag.

Proceedings got underway at an overcast Oulton with Kellett getting away well from pole for Total Control Racing ahead of Chadwick behind, before a coming together at Old Hall between Alexis Taylor, Glen Broster and Brian Ellory for the first time.

On the restart it was Chadwick who got the jump, sieving into the lead, with Linn also disposing of Kellett early on with a close-behind Callum Pointon a car length behind and ready to follow suit. Meanwhile in the GRDC class, Rob Keogh led John Wall in 11th and 13th respectively.

Kellett began to set fastest lap times on his charge back to the front, and soon regained second from Linn on lap three. Chadwick however remained in control, keeping the gap at just under a second to Kellett, before the second red flag of the race entered the fray at the start of lap five, with rookie Mohamed Elshimy and Ian Robinson coming together in the final sector at Oulton.

With three-quarters race distance completed, the result stood, with Chadwick taking the spoils ahead of Kellett, Linn, Pointon, and Russ Simpson who round out the top six. Elsewhere, Keogh took an impressive tenth overall and victory in the GRDC class.

Race two of the series opening weekend takes place at 2:55pm today (Saturday 4th April).